Can an unmarried partner of a UK citizen apply under Surinder Singh route (like a spouse would do)?
We are often asked about this and generally about the Surinder Singh route. It is used by British citizens and their family members to secure a UK visa for a non-EU family member in the UK – but under the EU law. Normally, spouses (and civil partners) of EEA citizens, such as Irish or French or Polish, are applying using the European law. This is where they get an EEA Family Permit for 6 months outside the UK or a Residence Card for 5 years if applying inside the UK. However, very often British citizens, or rather their non-EU family members, are trying to apply for a visa using the same route. After all, the UK are in the EU and British citizens are the EU citizens, aren’t they? Those who do try to apply often get a shock of being told that this routes does not apply to family members of UK citizens, only to those of EU (non-UK) citizens. Why – because there has to be ‘movement’ between the EU member states and ‘British in Britain’ represents no movement! ...